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1 Dec 2017

Boy, 7, 'freezes to death' on doorstep as mum and uncle arrested

A seven-year-old boy is thought to have frozen to death after being left on the doorstep of his Birmingham home.

Hakeem Hussain was found outside his house in near-freezing conditions last Sunday morning.

It is believed the young boy perished after being on the doorstep for some time. He was found to have suffered a cardiac arrest.

Two people have been arrested – believed to be his mother and great uncle – on suspicion of wilfully ill-treating a child.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: ‘A man and woman were arrested on suspicion of wilfully ill-treating a child after a seven-year-old boy was found deceased at a property in Cook Street, Nechells, on Sunday, November 26, just after 7.30am.

‘The 56-year-old man and woman, aged 35, have been released under investigation while enquiries continue.’

Emergency services were called after the youngster was found deceased at the terraced property.

A post-mortem is due to take place today (Friday) to establish the cause of the boy’s death and police said enquiries were continuing.

Floral tributes were left outside the house after the news became public.

A next-door neighbour said a middle-aged man had lived at the address for a few years, but was joined by his niece and her young son around two weeks ago.

‘When I heard what happened I was shocked,’ said the neighbour.

‘I never heard anything from inside the house, they were always very quiet. The couple of times I saw the child he looked happy, healthy and well-fed and had no sign of injury.’

Another neighbour said the 56-year-old man suffered health problems and used a disability scooter to get around.

‘He lived there alone, but now and then various relatives came to stay with him and the last time I saw him he said his niece and her son were coming to stay,’ he said.

‘I was told he’d gone into hospital so didn’t know the child had died and he’d been arrested.